Bolton: No US Involvement in Attack in Venezuela

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday the United States had no involvement in the apparent assassination attempt on Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro.

“I can say unequivocally there was no U.S. government involvement in this at all,” Bolton told Fox News.

In a televised speech late Saturday hours after the attack, Maduro said “everything points” to a right-wing plot he claims originated in neighboring Colombia. But he added that initial investigations “indicate that various of those financing it live in the United States, in the state of Florida. I hope that President Donald Trump is ready to fight these terrorist groups.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reacts during an event that was interrupted, reportedly by explosives from drones, in this still frame taken from government video, Aug. 4, 2018, in Caracas, Venezuela.

Maduro, who was not injured, claimed the attack by explosive laden-drones “is what U.S. imperialism is seeking…a Venezuela in conflict, in civil war.”

Recounting the attack, Maduro said, “This was an attempt to kill me. Today they attempted to assassinate me.”

Bolton said in the Fox interview, “If the government of Venezuela has hard information that they want to present to us that would show a potential violation of U.S. criminal law, we’ll take a serious look at it, but in the meantime I think what we really should focus on is the corruption and oppression in the Maduro regime in Venezuela.”

Maduro said in Saturday’s attack, “That drone was coming for me but there was a shield of love. I am sure I will live for many more years.” He said God, the people and the country’s armed forces saved him from being killed.

He added that he has “no doubt that the name [Colombian President] Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attack.” The French news agency Agence France-Presse quoted a source in the Colombian government as saying the charge against President Santos is “without foundation.”

The Venezuelan leader said several perpetrators were caught, but he did not provide further details.

The Maduro government is investigating the attack and said that on Monday it would reveal “in detail” what it has found.

While Maduro was speaking about Venezuela’s economy at the event, television images showed Maduro and others looking startled after the sound of multiple explosions could be heard. A moment later, the video showed soldiers breaking ranks and scurrying for cover.

Another explosion occurred at a building near where the attack on Maduro occurred. An inhabitant of the building told VOA Venezuelan correspondent Adriana Nunez that a drone landed next to the parking lot for the building and 10 minutes later exploded.

Venezuela has been in turmoil for several years. Once one of Latin America’s wealthiest countries, years of poor governing and failed social policies have eroded the nation’s stability resulting in social strife and runaway inflation.

Maduro was elected in May to a new six-year term in a result widely denounced by the opposition and international observers as illegitimate and rife with irregularities.

...

Bolton: No US Involvement in Attack in Venezuela
Reviewed by NewsDr.
on
6:36 PM
Rating: 5